SPL starts with Edinburgh derby

Hibernian will cross the capital to meet Hearts in an opening-day Edinburgh derby as the Clydesdale Bank Premier League kicks-off on 4 August.

SPL new boys Gretna will take on Falkirk at their temporary Fir Park home and champions Celtic host Kilmarnock for the second year running.

Rangers have a tricky trip to face Inverness as they begin their title tilt, while Aberdeen visit Dundee Utd.

Managerless Motherwell are away to St Mirren at Love Street.

Rangers and Celtic supporters will have to wait until 20 October for the first Old Firm league derby of the season, when Celtic visit Ibrox just three days after Scotland's Euro 2008 visit to Georgia.

The reigning champions will hope to begin their defence in similar fashion to last season, when they defeated Killie 4-1 on opening day.

But Celtic must travel to Falkirk and Aberdeen in their subsequent games.

Walter Smith's Rangers side will host St Mirren and Falkirk in their second and third matches.

Gretna - who won the First Division with practically the last kick of the season - travel to Edinburgh two weeks in a row after their opener and face landlords Motherwell in a "home" fixture after that.

Aberdeen - who finished third last term - have a tough start.

After the opening day New Firm derby at Tannadice, the Dons face Hearts and Celtic at home before paying Hibernian a visit.

The SPL will take two-week breaks in September, October and November to accomodate the national side as Alex McLeish's side chase a place in the Euro 2008 finals.

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SPL opening weekend fixtures:
Saturday, 4 August 2007
Celtic v Kilmarnock
Dundee Utd v Aberdeen
Gretna v Falkirk
Hearts v Hibernian
Inverness CT v Rangers
St Mirren v Motherwell